Electric-light switch



Nov. 16 1926.

1,607,591- E. H. MCGEE ELECTRIC LIGHT swnca Filed Feb. 3, 1926 "Ila muni 1 $21-$07? fa Zzyaw taken on the line 77 Patented Nov. 16, 1926.

UITED STATES .P

EUGENE H. ItIcGEE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

ASSIGNGP, 0F ONE-THERD TO LOUIS A.

CORDA AND ONE-TI-ITBD TO FRED TJBEETSCI-IE, BOTEZOF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC-LIGHT SWITCH.

Application filed February 3, 1926. Serial No. 85,6252.

This invention relates to electric light switches, and its principalobject is to provide means whereby the intensity of light projectedfromone or more electric lamps may be conveniently controlled and regulated.The invention has been designed especially for use in connection withthe electric head lights of motor vehicles, but its use is not limitedthereto. Another bject of this invention is to provide a sw tch whichmay be located at any convenient place, for controlling the electriccurrent of the lighting system, and containing a regulatable resistanceelement, whereby the head lights may be caused to throw a powerful orintensely bright light, and they may be caused to throw a regulatable,dim light as is found necessary or desirable. Another object is toprovide a switch, containing a resistance element which will'not becomehot, whereby the switch may be placed on the steering wheel of a motorvehicle without any discomfort to the driver. Another object is toprovide a non-heating resistance element in an electric light switchwhich may be easily regulated to increase or decrease the resistance,whereby the intensity of the light projected from the head lights (whenoperating on the dim light circuit) may be governed ,to suit thepartlcular fancy of the driver. Other objects and advantages will appearin the course of this specification, and with all of said objects andadvantages in view, this invention consists in the several novelfeatures hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, inwhich: i

Fig. 1 is a plan of a'fragment of the steer ing wheel of an automobile,equipped with an electric light switch embodying a simple form of thepresent invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical, cross section taken on the line22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a central, horizontal section taken on the line33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a central, vertical section taken on the line41-'i of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a vertical, cross section taken on the line55 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig.3; Fig. 7 is a vertical, cross section of Fig. 3; and Fig. 8 is adiagrammatic view of an electric head light current, of an automobilewith my switch included therein.

such

readily accessible place adjacent the drivers station, and the steeringwheel has, been found to possess advantages, since the drivers hands arepractically always upon the wheel while driving the automobile, and theswitch may be manipulated without taking the hand oil the steeringwheel.

The switch comprises, in the simple form illustrated, a body 13 formedof non-conducting or insulating material, such as bakelite or fibre,which body is formed with a well or cavity 14 for containing powderedcarbon 15, or other suitable powdered electric resistance material,which is interposed in and forms part of the light circuit. Contactmaking and breaking pieces are provided in the switch for passing thecurrent around the resistance element 15, which is done when it isdesirable to have the head lights project a bright light. By properlymanipulating the switch, the current can be passed through theresistance element or around it, as desired. In the form of switchshown, the contact pieces comprise a stationary contact piece,

as a screw 16 threaded in an internally threaded hole 17 which extendslengthwise through the body 13. The other contact piece 18 is a movableone and as shown comprises a screw, threaded in the tapped hole 17 andextending into it from the other end of the body. A knob or handle 19 isprovided upon the protruding end of the screw 18 whereby it may bereadily turned to bring the screw 18 into contact withthe stationarycontact piece 16 or withdraw 1t therefrom. .A very slight movement ofthe handle 19 is suflicient to makeor brea'k contact between the contactpieces '16, .18. In the drawing, the contact piecesare shown in contact;by moving the handle 19 in a contraclockwise direction, the contact isbroken.

The electric connection between thecon- 395 tactpieces 16, 18 andother-elements ofthe switch. circuit will now be described. Secured ina'groove or slot 20 in one end .of

the plate 21, and

the body 18 is ametal plate 21, which for convenience, may be secured inplace by a screw 22, the head of which bears against the stem of whichextends through a hole, 23 formed in the body 13, and has a nut 24 onits other end bearing against the end of the body, opposite the one onwhich the plate 21 is secured. EX- tending into the well or cavity 14from both ends of the body, 13, and forming electrical contact with thepowdered resistance element 15, therein, are two terminals or electrodes25, 26, here shown in the form of screws threadedly secured in thecavity 1 L which in this instance, is internally threaded near its endsfor the reception of the screws 25, 26. The screw 26 extends through themetal plate 21, and the latter comprises a part of the dim li htcircuit, and part of the bright light circuit, as will presently appear.Conductor wires 27, 28, lead from the screws 22, 25 and run to the mainconductor Z), of the light circuit. The screws 16, 25 are connected by apiece of wire 29 or otherwise so as to establish electrical connectionbetween them. The two circuits through the switch may be traced from thewire 27, through the screw 22, plate 21, contact screw 18, screw 16,wire 29, screw 25, and wire 28. When contact between the screws 16, 18is broken, the circuit through the. switch may be traced from wire 27through screw 22, plate 21, screw 18, plate 21, screw 26, resistanceelement 15, screw 25, and wire 28. Cover plates 80, 81 are secured onthe ends of the body 13 by screws 32 to furnisha finished appearance tothe body, and one of said plates is formed with holes for the passage ofthe conductor cords 27, 28, and the other with holes for the contactscrew 18 and screw, 26.

The switch may be installed as a per manent part of the originalequipment of an automobile, or it may be quickly attached to automobilesunprovided with such a device. In the circuit illustrated in Fig. 8, theswitch 11 is shown as installed in a bright light circuit of anautomobile lightingsystcm of conventional form. In this lighting systemwires, a, 6 run from light lamps A, A, through the switch, 11, on thesteering wheel to the battery 13. The usual lighting switch C, andresistance coil 0, are interposed in the lighting circuit whereby thecircuit may be closed through the regular bright light circuit or theregular dim light circuit of the system, or entirely shut off.Ordinarily the wires 0, b are joined at the point marked X, but when thepresent switch is installed in the lighting system the wiretb is cut atX and the wires 27, 28 of the dimming switch joined to the two ends 5,b. The bright light circuit. thereupon passes through the dimmingswitch; 11, whereby the intensity of the head lights may be controlledfrom a place on the steering wheel or other convenient and easilyaccessible place close to the drivers hands.

I have found that the intensity of the dim lights may be governed orcontrolled with the use of a powdered resistance element, such aspowdered carbon, by rendering the carbon more or less compact. WVhenleft in a more or less loose state the resistance is made greater andcaused to project a very dim light. When the resistance element iscompacted more or less, the resistance become less and the lamps arethereby caused to project a brighter light. The degree of density ofthepowdered carbon may be governed by the screw 26. By turning up the screw26 and thereby forcing it against the powdered carbon, the latter iscompacted, and by turning the screw back the density is lowered. Somedrivers prefer to drive with fairly bright driving lights, while othersprefer to drive with very dim lights. The arrangement describedfurnishes means whereby the desired brilliancy of the lights (whendimmed) may be governed to suit the fancy of the driver.

The device is especially advantageous, because it can be placed in anyconvenient position, conveniently accessible to the driver at all times.This is an important factor when driving at night on country roads orother dark places, because the bright lights can be quickly and readilydimmed when approaching another vehicle coming from the oppositedirection, as is required by the laws of many States. Moreover thedriver may control the lights without taking either hand off thesteering wheel, which is a great advantage. Furthermore, the switch doesnot become hot, as is the case of ordinary resistance coils, and forthis reason it may be placed on the steering wheel or other convenientplace adjacent the driver.

I claim as new and Letters Patent:

1. In headlight dimming means for automobiles, a circuit controller,means for mounting said circuit controller on the steerdesire to secureby ing wheel assembly of an automobile, said I circuit controller havinga body of non-conducting material, a stationary contact piece and amovable contact piece interposed in the electric circuit of theautomobile headlights, the stationary contact piece being secured insaid body, and the movable contact piece being threadedly secured insaid body in alignment with said stationary contact piece and capable ofbeing screwed up against'said stationary contact piece to close thecircuit through said controller and arranged to be backed away from saidcontact piece to break thecircuit, and a resistance element electricallyconnected with one of said contact pieces.

the lamps are therefore 7 with the use ice 2. In an electric lightswitch, a casing having an insulated Well therein, a powdered carbonresistance element contained in said Well, a stationary electrode at oneend of said well in electrical contact with said resistance element, ascrew, threadedly mounted in the other end of said well and inelectrical contact with said resistance element, and forming anelectrode therefor, a stal0 tionary contact member secured in saidcasing, a threaded contact making and breaking member, threadedlysecured in said casing and arranged to make and break contact with saidstationary contact member, said stationary and movable contact makingand breaking members being electrically connected with said stationaryand threaded electrodes for the resistance element.

EUGENE H. MoGEE.

